Note that even with Windows you often had to install some standard libraries, like MSVCR.DLL or the DirectX version du jour (and I think some VB runtimes, too).
Most often redistributed with the software, so done by the installer.
Although, to be fair, it might very well be the case that for a given old Linux binary, your distribution won't* have the old runtimes available. Good luck if you've got a commercial pre-press helper application that requires Qt 1.x.
Other than availability, what's the big backwards compatibility killer for Linux? a.out vs. ELF?
(I remember someone creating their own distribution due to the ELF/glibc shift, back in neolithic times)
Although, to be fair, it might very well be the case that for a given old Linux binary, your distribution won't* have the old runtimes available. Good luck if you've got a commercial pre-press helper application that requires Qt 1.x.
Other than availability, what's the big backwards compatibility killer for Linux? a.out vs. ELF? (I remember someone creating their own distribution due to the ELF/glibc shift, back in neolithic times)